1. Forensic Medicine Introduction
Dr. Raid Jastania

3. Forensic Medicine Definition:
Branch of “Medical” practice concerns with
Legal issues
In Life and Death
Usually performed by Pathologists

4. Aspects of Forensic Medicine
Life and Death
Medical Malpractice
Abuse
Ethics in medical practice
Legal issues

5. History of Forensic Medicine
Not before civilization with:
Development of Law
Medical knowledge
Egyptian law and medicine
Medical, surgical knowledge
Law, prisons, pyramids
Toxins: arsenic, mercury, copper
First medico-legal expert

6. The Greek legal code: Romans, Chinese Scientific medicine
Hippocartes and scientific methods
Legal code
Poisons, abortions
Romans, Chinese
Scientific medicine
Anatomy, physiology
Use of microscope
specialization

7. Exercise 1:

8. You receive a phone call from a lady that her father has died of lung cancer and you are asked to write a report of the “Cause of Death”.
She tells you that her father was working in a factory of construction material and she suspect that his death is related to toxicity of these construction material. She suspects “Asbestos” exposure.
What would you do?

9. Who can write this report?
What are the consequences?
What are the “Standards of Practice” is such a situation?
ما هي أركان الجريمة؟

10. Forensic Medicine Who performs what:
It depends on the legal system of the country
Terms:
Coroner
Medical Examiner
Court
Death certification
Police

11. The Law Source of the Law Medical Profession Rules
Legal vs Ethical responsibilities

12. The Legal System The Criminal System Civil Courts:
Offences against public interest
Individual is presumed innocent until found guilty
Penalties: fines, imprisonment, beating, amputation of parts, execution
Civil Courts:
Between individuals
Restoration of position before the event
Usually financial compensation

13. Doctors and the Law Citizen Professional witness Expert witness
Attendance at court
Written reports
Giving evidence
Behavior in court

14. How do Pathologist Collect the Evidence

15. Autopsy Definition: Post mortem examination of body External
Internal organ
Types:
Clinical “Hospital” Autopsy
Forensic Autopsy
Description of Autopsy Suite

23. Medical Reporting

24. Medical Reporting Who is requesting the Report
Police, judge, lawyer, government department
Am I entitled to write such a report?
Confidentiality
Lack of knowledge
Consent of living patient
“assumed” consent
Criminal cases

25. Exercise 2: What do we need to write in Autopsy report? Make a List!

26. Structure of a Report Patient data Doctor Data Time, date, place
People attending autopsy
Consent of autopsy
Next of ken
Extent of autopsy
Special requests

27. Structure of a Report Physical Examination Treatment given X-rays
External
Internal
Treatment given
X-rays
Blood tests, toxicology
Injuries
Openion

28. Tips for Reporting Make it Simple Relevant information ?Abbreviations
Background of death
Scene visit of death
Confidential
No change or delete

29. Exercise 3:

30. In a street fight, a 25 year old man had stabbing wound in the central chest. Few minutes later, he collapsed and died.
What is the cause of death?

31. The cause of death was written as:
(Cardio-Respiratory arrest following stabbing wound on chest)

32. Exercise 4:

33. You see a 6 year old boy in the ER, who was brought by his mother because of laceration in the forehead.
According to the mother, the boy was running and fell done on the floor.
On examination you noticed at least 3 bruises on the anterior aspect of the legs.
You documented and reported “Child abuse” and called the authorized person to investigate in the case.